First Tamiya done; waiting on battery arriving today.

[desmobob]

The Hornet Evo... fun project until the decal placement.

I kept mostly to the box art but added some stripes to the wing and put a pair of Hornet decals there rather than the flames and the large "Any Time, Baby!" decal that I associate more with an old Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter squadron than an RC buggy.

I may have succumbed to the Tamiya addiction after that one model... I already ordered their limited-edition Citroen DS. In my childhood, the son of our local Chevy-Olds dealership was a Citroen enthusiast and Maserati engine nut. And a neighbor who moved here from France drove a DS.
https://www.amainhobbies.com/tamiya-citroen-ds-1-10-2wd-onroad-kit-blue-mb01-tam47502/p1580749

 

[tgpkine]

F14, you say? VF103 Jolly Roger livery would be a most excellent approach, imo.

My first kit was a Tamiya kit. They kinda spoil you.

 

[desmobob]

F14, you say? VF103 Jolly Roger livery would be a most excellent approach, imo.

My first kit was a Tamiya kit. They kinda spoil you.

Yup... as an enlisted Navy Journalist in the '80s, I was stationed at the Naval Air Facility, Washington DC. It was traditional for pilots passing through to stick their squadron decals on the door to Operations. The Grumman "Anytime, Baby!" and VF-103 decals were both there. I used to have a photo of that door but I can't find it (it's a old-school print from film, so it's in a shoebox somewhere...).

My first kit was a Vanquish Optic H10. That definitely spoiled me!

 

[HPIguy]

Decals are much easier using a 75/25 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. Lets you slide them around and get them where you want them, then they'll dry in place overnight and be good to go.

 

[desmobob]

Decals are much easier using a 75/25 mix of isopropyl alcohol and water. Lets you slide them around and get them where you want them, then they'll dry in place overnight and be good to go.

Folks in the know usually offer that advice and I don't seem to take it. I tried once on a Rlaarlo XTS-10 Subaru rally car with large decals that had to go over varied bumps and bulges and into deep corners, etc. I tried using water with some dish soap but I apparently didn't use enough soap, so it was ineffective.

I'll make it a point to take you advice the next time I have to apply decals! Thanks.

 

[HPIguy]

Folks in the know usually offer that advice and I don't seem to take it. I tried once on a Rlaarlo XTS-10 Subaru rally car with large decals that had to go over varied bumps and bulges and into deep corners, etc. I tried using water with some dish soap but I apparently didn't use enough soap, so it was ineffective.

I'll make it a point to take you advice the next time I have to apply decals! Thanks.

If you ever take up small/micro scale stuff where you're applying them with tweezers under a magnifying hood, it's a Godsend.

 

[joerzr]

The Hornet Evo... fun project until the decal placement.

I kept mostly to the box art but added some stripes to the wing and put a pair of Hornet decals there rather than the flames and the large "Any Time, Baby!" decal that I associate more with an old Navy F-14 Tomcat fighter squadron than an RC buggy.

View attachment 278255

I may have succumbed to the Tamiya addiction after that one model... I already ordered their limited-edition Citroen DS. In my childhood, the son of our local Chevy-Olds dealership was a Citroen enthusiast and Maserati engine nut. And a neighbor who moved here from France drove a DS.
https://www.amainhobbies.com/tamiya-citroen-ds-1-10-2wd-onroad-kit-blue-mb01-tam47502/p1580749

Awesome buggy! And Tamiya kits are very fun to build and run on a backyard track like the old days. Welcome to the addiction...

 

[CertifiedMike]

Reminds me a whole lot of my 1st buggy.
Nice job! I'm so glad you enjoyed building it. Tamiya is its own brand of fun. I can't explain why but each of their buggies has a unique personality. Each kit makes me happy like a little kid.
Have fun with it!!!

 

[desmobob]

Reminds me a whole lot of my 1st buggy.
Nice job! I'm so glad you enjoyed building it. Tamiya is its own brand of fun. I can't explain why but each of their buggies has a unique personality. Each kit makes me happy like a little kid.
Have fun with it!!!

Thanks!

The whole vibe is confusing. With my first two kits being Vanquish, I was shocked at the Tamiya's cross-head screws, seemingly cheap plastic, slop in the front end steering parts, weird tires; almost everything about it. And I don't have the nostalgia connection that draws in a lot of Tamiya fans.

I guess there was some nostalgia involved, as I definitely felt the kit was a step back in time as far as materials, design, tech, etc. And when it was done, it handled poorly compared to current stuff. But I was already picking out the next Tamiya I would order.

As I mentioned in another thread, I can't seem to put it into words. It's a special kind of experience and a special kind of fun. Maybe this is true only for older folks? I don't know. I just know that there will be more Tamiyas in my future.